The Giants, coming off a last-place finish, are moving into more rarefied air off the field. They have acquired a stake in FSN Bay Area as part of a deal that locks up their TV partnership for decades.

It isn’t quite the same as the Yankees’ self-owned network, but the Giants now have an arrangement similar to that enjoyed by the New York Mets and Boston Red Sox. The 25-year deal reportedly will give the Giants at least 20 percent of the station. Although terms weren’t announced, that stake could be a $100 million asset; last year, Comcast bought 60 percent of FSN Bay Area and 50 percent of the similarly sized FSN New England for a total of $570 million.

In addition to ensuring that every game will be on the air, the Giants are betting on the growth of the station, which will be renamed Comcast SportsNet in time for baseball’s regular season. The network will have a nightly news show and other programming to complement its airing of Giants, Warriors, A’s, Sharks and college games.

“If we’re going to own a piece of this, the better all the teams do, the better it is for the network,” said Larry Baer, the Giants’ executive vice president.

Yep. The Giants benefit financially if the A’s ratings go up. Crazy cross-pollinating media world we live in.

Baer said the deal would not lift the Giants’ payroll to the Red Sox/Mets level; they’ll remain at the edge of baseball’s top 10, which last year meant about $90 million.

The immediate concerns for fans are whether the station becomes a house organ like the Yankees’ YES Network, and whether the Giants will be favored when there are scheduling conflicts that force one team to FSN Plus.

Programming director Ted Griggs said the news operation will be harsh when needed and added that other franchises will benefit from the Giants’ involvement.

“A rising tide lifts all boats,” he said. “This will positively affect Sharks coverage, A’s coverage, Warriors coverage. We’re upping the ante for everybody. We made promises to the Giants as part of this long-term deal. It’s not in our DNA to do something for one team and not do it for the others.”

• One other sign of Comcast’s growing influence: FSN Bay Area announced “NHL Extra,” a slate of 30 out-of-market games that will air here because they’re produced by Comcast affiliates in Chicago, Washington and Philadelphia.

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